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Seven verses gathered from the 700-verse Durga Saptashati, revealed by the Goddess to Shiva as a short path to her grace for a busy age — a whole scripture in a few minutes.
Seven verses drawn from the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati)
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Durga Saptashloki
Son of Kali · Power of Durga
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
देवि त्वं भक्तसुलभे सर्वकार्यविधायिनी ।
Devi Tvam Bhakta Sulabhe Sarva Karya Vidhayini
devi tvaṃ bhaktasulabhe sarvakāryavidhāyinī
Shiva said: O Goddess, easily reached by your devotees, you who accomplish every task,
कलौ हि कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमुपायं ब्रूहि यत्नतः ॥
Kalau Hi Karya Siddhyartham Upayam Bruhi Yatnatah
kalau hi kāryasiddhyarthamupāyaṃ brūhi yatnataḥ
please tell me carefully the means of success in this age of Kali.
शृणु देव प्रवक्ष्यामि कलौ सर्वेष्टसाधनम् ।
Shrinu Deva Pravakshyami Kalau Sarveshta Sadhanam
śṛṇu deva pravakṣyāmi kalau sarveṣṭasādhanam
The Goddess said: Listen, O Lord — I will tell you the means to every goal in the Kali age.
मया तवैव स्नेहेनाप्यम्बास्तुतिः प्रकाश्यते ॥
Maya Tavaiva Snehenapyamba Stutih Prakashyate
mayā tavaiva snehenāpyambāstutiḥ prakāśyate
Out of love for you, I now reveal this hymn to the Mother.
ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा ।
Jnaninam Api Chetamsi Devi Bhagavati Hi Sa
jñāninām api cetāṃsi devī bhagavatī hi sā
Even the minds of the wise — the blessed Goddess,
बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति ॥
Baladakrishya Mohaya Mahamaya Prayacchati
balādākṛṣya mohāya mahāmāyā prayacchati
Mahamaya, seizes them with force and hands them over to delusion.
दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः
Durge Smrita Harasi Bhitim Ashesha Jantoh
durge smṛtā harasi bhītim aśeṣajantoḥ
O Durga, when remembered, you take away the fear of every creature;
स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि ।
Svasthaih Smrita Matim Ativa Shubham Dadasi
svasthaiḥ smṛtā matim atīva śubhāṃ dadāsi
remembered by the healthy and happy, you give them a supremely good mind.
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या
Daridrya Duhkha Bhaya Harini Ka Tvadanya
dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā
Remover of poverty, pain and fear — who but you
सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥
Sarvopakara Karanaya Sadardra Chitta
sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadārdracittā
has a heart always soft with the wish to help everyone?
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike
O auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, O gracious one, fulfiller of every aim,
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostu Te
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo'stu te
O refuge, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani — salutations to you.
शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे ।
Sharanagata Dinarta Paritrana Parayane
śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe
You who are devoted to rescuing the helpless and afflicted who come to you for refuge,
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Sarvasyarti Hare Devi Narayani Namostu Te
sarvasyārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo'stu te
remover of everyone’s suffering, O Goddess Narayani — salutations to you.
सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते ।
Sarva Svarupe Sarveshe Sarva Shakti Samanvite
sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite
You whose form is everything, ruler of all, endowed with every power —
भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Bhayebhyas Trahi No Devi Durge Devi Namostu Te
bhayebhyastrāhi no devi durge devi namo'stu te
protect us from all fears, O Goddess; O Goddess Durga, salutations to you.
रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा
Rogan Asheshan Apahamsi Tushta
rogān aśeṣān apahaṃsi tuṣṭā
When pleased, you destroy all illness;
रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् ।
Rushta Tu Kaman Sakalan Abhishtan
ruṣṭā tu kāmān sakalān abhīṣṭān
when displeased, you take away every cherished desire.
त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां
Tvam Ashritanam Na Vipannaranam
tvām āśritānāṃ na vipannarāṇāṃ
Those who take shelter in you never fall into misfortune;
त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ॥
Tvam Ashrita Hyashrayatam Prayanti
tvām āśritā hyāśrayatāṃ prayānti
those who take shelter in you become a shelter for others.
सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि ।
Sarvabadha Prashamanam Trailokyasyakhileshvari
sarvābādhāpraśamanaṃ trailokyasyākhileśvari
O Queen of all, quiet every affliction of the three worlds;
एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम् ॥
Evameva Tvaya Karyam Asmad Vairi Vinashanam
evameva tvayā kāryamasmadvairivināśanam
and in the same way, destroy all that is hostile to us.
The Durga Saptashati (also called the Devi Mahatmya or Chandi Path) has seven hundred verses and takes hours to recite. The Saptashloki gathers seven of its most important verses into a hymn short enough for every day.
In its opening, Shiva asks the Goddess for a simple way for people of the Kali Yuga to reach their goals, and she answers by revealing these seven verses. Tradition holds that reciting them brings the blessing of the whole Saptashati.
The verses move from the Goddess as Mahamaya, the great power of illusion, to Durga who removes fear and poverty, to Narayani the giver of all good, and finally to the prayer that she destroy every obstacle and enemy.
Shiva says: “O Goddess, you are easily reached by your devotees. Tell me the means for success in the Kali Yuga.” The Goddess replies: “Out of love for you, I will reveal the hymn to the Mother that fulfils every wish.”
Then come the seven verses. The story reflects an old understanding: when time and attention are short, a small practice done sincerely is enough.
When to chant
How many times
Once, three times, or seven times.
Sit before an image of Durga and light a lamp.
Chant the opening dialogue to set the intention.
Chant the seven verses slowly along with the recording.
Offer a flower or a moment of silence at the end.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
jñāninām
gyaa-ni-naam — jñ sounds like gy.
dāridrya
daa-rid-rya.
tryambake
tryum-ba-kay.
What is the Durga Saptashloki?
Seven verses taken from the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya), revealed by the Goddess to Shiva as a short form of the whole text.
What are the benefits of the Durga Saptashloki?
Tradition says it gives the merit of reading the full Saptashati — protection, removal of fear and poverty, recovery from illness and success in good undertakings.
How long does it take?
About five minutes, which is why it is so widely chanted every day.
Is Sarva Mangala Mangalye part of it?
Yes — it is the third verse. It also has its own page in this library.